Connex South Eastern

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what subsidies have been paid to Connex South Eastern to assist them with the purchase of new trains; when these payments were made; what Connex is required to do as a consequence of accepting these payments; how many confirmed orders for new trains Connex has informed his Department it has made; and how many trains Connex has accepted. [13874]

Between 13 October 1996 and 31 March 2001, the following amounts of franchise support were paid to Connex South Eastern by the franchising director and, since 1 February 2001, by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA).

Franchise support for Connex South Eastern is the franchising director's and the SRA's contribution to funding all the company's expenditure under its franchise agreement, including expenditure on new trains. Under the agreement, the company is required to use all reasonable endeavours to introduce new trains on time. I understand that the company has ordered 210 vehicles, 16 of which are in passenger service.